Derval O'Rourke wins 100m hurdles silver for Ireland

By John Haughey
BBC Sport NI

Ireland's Derval O'Rourke celebrates her silver medal in Barcelona

Derval O'Rourke repeated her silver success of four years ago in the 100 metres hurdles to win Ireland's only medal of the European Championships.

O'Rourke set an Irish record of 12.65, cutting .02secs off her previous mark as she finished behind Turkey's Nevin Yanit who won in 12.63 in Barcelona.

"All year I thought I was going to win here," said a delighted O'Rourke.

"Medals are very special and, winning a silver medal in a new Irish record, I would take every day of the week."

Alistair Cragg dropped out of the 5000m final with just over four laps to go after going from first to last position in the space of 600 metres.

It was a repeat performance by Cragg after he dropped out of the Olympic 5000m final in Beijing two years ago.

But while Cragg once again disappointed at a major championship, it was a very different story from O'Rourke.

"Championships are my absolute everything. I was completely focused on this final and I don't even know when my flight home from here is," said the Cork woman.

Turk Yanit led all the way to take the gold although O'Rourke was gaining on the leader after the final hurdle.

O'Rourke's dip ensured she held off Germany's Carolin Nytra to clinch the silver.

David Gillick decided to pull out of Ireland's 4x400 replay team

Earlier in the day, David Gillick failed to answer Ireland's relay call after opting out of the 4x400m relay heats as the Irish failed to progress to Sunday's final.

Ireland's supposed medal banker Gillick was a disappointing fifth in Friday evening's 400m final and told the Irish team management after the race that he would not be running in Saturday's relay heats.

The Irish team management made a number of attempts to change Gillick's mind.

The understrength Irish squad clocked 3:07.21 which was 1.89 seconds off qualification.

Steven Colvert was drafted into the Irish quartet which also included Gordon Kennedy, Brian Murphy and Brian Gregan.

Qualification would have been tough for the Irish, but Gillick's presence would have given them a decent chance of making the decider.

Irish team manager Patsy McGonagle said that Gillick had said that he "couldn't run" in the relay heats.

There was no information on any possible injury so it appears that Gillick felt that he was not in the right frame of mind to run after his disappointment some 13 hours earlier.

North Down athlete Amy Foster was part of an Irish women's 4x100m relay squad which missed out on a place in Sunday's final by an agonising .03secs.

Foster combined with Niamh Whelan, Claire Brady and Ailis McSweeney to clock 43.93 which saw them just pipped for the second fastest losers' spot by the Swedes.

The Irish quartet took fourth in the opening heat and were only .05 behind the third automatic qualifiers, Spain.

The Irish women's 4x400m squad missed out on a place in their final by .89secs but had the consolation of securing a qualifying time for next year's World Championships in South Korea.

Marian Andrews, Joanne Cuddihy, Brona Furlong and Michelle Carey combined to clock 3:30.11 which was also a national record.